Method and system for providing and managing public telephone directory service

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a directory service is disclosed. The apparatus may include a memory configured to store a local directory and a processor configured to manage the local directory, the local directory including a plurality of directory entries organized in a subdomain hierarchical structure, each directory entry being associated with an alias constructed using subdomain hierarchical information, each alias being linked to a user domain associated with a user, the user domain being linked to a record containing contact information for the user.

1. A computing device, comprising:
 a device processor; 
 communication circuitry coupled to the device processor and configured to communicate with a public phone book service (PPBS) server storing a network directory comprising a plurality of default user domains organized in a first subdomain hierarchical structure, each default user domain being associated with a record containing contact information associated with a user, and each default user domain being constructed into a domain-based name based on the first subdomain hierarchical structure; and 
 a device memory coupled to the device processor, the device memory storing a local directory comprising a plurality of directory entries organized in a second subdomain hierarchical structure, each directory entry being constructed into a domain-based name based on the second subdomain hierarchical structure, at least one directory entry being associated with one of a plurality of aliases, and each of the plurality of aliases being linked to at least one of the plurality of default user domains of the network directory stored in PPBS server, 
 wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a request for contact information associated with the least one directory entry; 
 accessing the local directory to determine whether the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 retrieving contact information associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is not associated with an alias; 
 retrieving the alias associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server; 
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server; and 
 receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server comprises receiving a record containing a telephone number from the PPBS server. 
     
     
       3. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:
 resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server comprises resolving the second subdomain hierarchical structure associated with the retrieved alias to the first subdomain hierarchical structure; and 
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises sending a lookup request including the retrieved alias to the PPBS server based on the resolved first subdomain hierarchical structure. 
 
     
     
       4. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server comprises resolving the retrieved alias to a default user domain organized in the first subdomain hierarchical structure based on Domain Name System (DNS) protocols. 
     
     
       5. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user; and 
 receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server comprises receiving a tailored response based on the additional information included in the lookup request. 
 
     
     
       6. The computing device of  claim 5 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:
 sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises sending a request that includes an access policy of the specified user. 
 
     
     
       7. The computing device of  claim 5 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises sending a request that includes at least one of user information and device information. 
     
     
       8. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 synchronizing the local directory with the network directory. 
 
     
     
       9. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries. 
 
     
     
       10. The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable to perform operations such that identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries comprises identifying a degree-of-separation between the two or more directory entries. 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations for retrieving information from a public phone book service (PPBS) server storing a network directory comprising a plurality of default user domains organized in a first subdomain hierarchical structure, each default user domain being associated with a record containing contact information associated with a user and each default user domain being constructed into a domain-based name based on the first subdomain hierarchical structure, the operations comprising:
 storing a local directory comprising a plurality of directory entries organized in a second subdomain hierarchical structure, each directory entry being constructed into a domain-based name based on the second subdomain hierarchical structure, at least one directory entry being associated with one of a plurality of aliases, and each of the plurality of aliases being linked to at least one of the plurality of default user domains in the network directory stored in the PPBS server, 
 receiving a request for contact information associated with the least one directory entry; 
 accessing the local directory to determine whether the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 retrieving contact information associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is not associated with an alias; 
 retrieving the alias associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server; 
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server; and 
 receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server comprises receiving a record containing a telephone number from the PPBS server. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that:
 resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server comprises resolving the second subdomain hierarchical structure associated with the retrieved alias to the first subdomain hierarchical structure; and 
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises sending a lookup request including the retrieved alias to the PPBS server based on the resolved first subdomain hierarchical structure. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server comprises resolving the retrieved alias to a default user domain organized in the first subdomain hierarchical structure based on Domain Name System (DNS) protocols. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that:
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that:
 sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises sending a request that includes an access policy of the specified user. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises sending a request that includes at least one of user information and device information. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations further comprising:
 synchronizing the local directory with the network directory. 
 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations further comprising:
 identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that that identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries comprises identifying a degree-of-separation between the two or more directory entries. 
     
     
       21. A computing device, comprising:
 means for communicating with a public phone book service (PPBS) server storing a network directory comprising a plurality of default user domains organized in a first subdomain hierarchical structure, each default user domain being associated with a record containing contact information associated with a user and each default user domain being constructed into a domain-based name based on the first subdomain hierarchical structure; 
 means for storing a local directory comprising a plurality of directory entries organized in a second subdomain hierarchical structure, each directory entry being constructed into a domain-based name based on the second subdomain hierarchical structure, at least one directory entry being associated with one of a plurality of aliases, and each of the plurality of aliases being linked to at least one of the plurality of default user domains in the network directory stored in the PPBS server; 
 means for receiving a request for contact information associated with the least one directory entry; 
 means for accessing the local directory to determine whether the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 means for retrieving contact information associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is not associated with an alias; 
 means for retrieving the alias associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 means for resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server of the PPBS server; 
 means for sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server; and 
 means for receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server. 
 
     
     
       22. The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein means for receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server comprises means for receiving a record containing a telephone number. 
     
     
       23. The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 means for resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server comprises means for resolving the second subdomain hierarchical structure associated with the retrieved alias to the first subdomain hierarchical structure; and 
 means for sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises means for sending a lookup request including the retrieved alias to the PPBS server based on the resolved first subdomain hierarchical structure. 
 
     
     
       24. The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein means for resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server comprises means for resolving the retrieved alias to a default user domain organized in the first subdomain hierarchical structure based on Domain Name System (DNS) protocols. 
     
     
       25. The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 means for sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises means for sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user. 
 
     
     
       26. The computing device of  claim 25 , wherein:
 means for sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises means for sending a request that includes an access policy of the specified user. 
 
     
     
       27. The computing device of  claim 25 , wherein means for sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises means for sending a request that includes at least one of user information and device information. 
     
     
       28. The computing device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 means for synchronizing the local directory with the network directory. 
 
     
     
       29. The computing device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 means for identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries. 
 
     
     
       30. The computing device of  claim 29 , means for identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries comprises means for identifying a degree-of-separation between the two or more directory entries. 
     
     
       31. A method of accessing a public phone book service (PPBS) server storing a network directory comprising a plurality of default user domains organized in a first subdomain hierarchical structure, each default user domain being associated with a record containing contact information associated with a user and each default user domain being constructed into a domain-based name based on the first subdomain hierarchical structure, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for contact information associated with a directory entry; 
 accessing a local directory comprising a plurality of directory entries organized in a second subdomain hierarchical structure, each directory entry being constructed into a domain-based name based on the second subdomain hierarchical structure, at least one directory entry being associated with one of a plurality of aliases, and each of the plurality of aliases being linked to at least one of the plurality of default user domains in the network directory stored in the PPBS server, 
 retrieving contact information associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is not associated with an alias; 
 retrieving the alias associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server; 
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server; and 
 receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server. 
 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , wherein receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server comprises receiving a record containing a telephone number. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server comprises resolving the second subdomain hierarchical structure associated with the retrieved alias to the first subdomain hierarchical structure; and 
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises sending a lookup request including the retrieved alias to the PPBS server based on the resolved first subdomain hierarchical structure. 
 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 31 , wherein resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the PPBS server comprises resolving the retrieved alias to a default user domain organized in the first subdomain hierarchical structure based on Domain Name System (DNS) protocols. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user. 
 
     
     
       36. The method  claim 35 , wherein:
 sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises sending a request that includes an access policy of the specified user. 
 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 35 , wherein sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises sending a request that includes at least one of user information and device information. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 synchronizing the local directory with the network directory. 
 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries. 
 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 39 , identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries comprises identifying a degree-of-separation between the two or more directory entries. 
     
     
       41. A system, comprising:
 a public phone book service (PPBS) server comprising a server memory and a server processor coupled to the server memory, the server memory storing a network directory comprising a plurality of default user domains organized in a first subdomain hierarchical structure, each default user domain being associated with a record containing contact information for a user, 
 a mobile device comprising a device memory and a device processor coupled to the device memory, the device memory storing a local directory comprising a plurality of directory entries organized in a second subdomain hierarchical structure, wherein at least one directory entry is associated with an alias and each alias is linked to one of the plurality of default user domains of the network directory stored in the server memory; 
 wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a request for contact information associated with the least one directory entry; 
 accessing the local directory to determine whether the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 retrieving contact information associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is not associated with an alias; 
 retrieving the alias associated with the directory entry from the local directory in response to determining that the directory entry for which contract information is requested is associated with an alias; 
 resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the server memory; 
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server; and 
 receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server. 
 
 
     
     
       42. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server comprises receiving a record containing a telephone number from the PPBS server. 
     
     
       43. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:
 resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the server memory comprises resolving the second subdomain hierarchical structure associated with the retrieved alias to the first subdomain hierarchical structure; and 
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises sending a lookup request including the retrieved alias to the PPBS server based on the resolved first subdomain hierarchical structure. 
 
     
     
       44. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that resolving the retrieved alias to at least one of the default user domains of the network directory stored in the server memory comprises resolving the retrieved alias to a default user domain organized in the first subdomain hierarchical structure based on Domain Name System (DNS) protocols. 
     
     
       45. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:
 sending a lookup request including the resolved alias to the PPBS server comprises sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user; and 
 receiving a record containing contact information associated with the directory entry from the PPBS server comprises receiving a tailored response based on the additional information included in the lookup request. 
 
     
     
       46. The system of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises sending a request that includes an access policy of the specified user; and 
 the server processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising sending a tailored response to the mobile device based on the access policy included in the request. 
 
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 45 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending a request including additional information associated with a specified user comprises sending a request that includes at least one of user information and device information. 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 synchronizing the local directory with the network directory. 
 
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries. 
 
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 49 , wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that identifying a relationship between two or more directory entries comprises identifying a degree-of-separation between the two or more directory entries.